Amos Yee appears in court but unable to access hearing; next pre-trial conference set for 22 May

SINGAPORE: Singaporean blogger Amos Yee Pang Sang, who faces charges under the Enlistment Act for allegedly evading national service obligations, appeared at the State Courts on 23 April 2026 but was unable to participate in a scheduled pre-trial conference due to lack of access.

Pre-trial conferences are administrative hearings held before a case proceeds to trial or is fixed for a guilty plea.

They are typically conducted in chambers, away from public view, and managed by legal representatives.

Accused persons with counsel are generally not required to attend.

The 27-year-old had earlier indicated he would not be engaging legal counsel.

However, court records show that his newly appointed lawyer is Divanan Narkunan.

Yee remained at the courthouse for a short time before leaving, later addressing the media at length.

Remarks on sentencing and personal matters

During the exchange, Yee commented on the possibility of imprisonment, saying he would “just treat it like a business trip” if sentenced, describing it as “something I have to do to ignite a political movement”.

He also spoke about his personal life, including his reported bans from dating applications, stating that he was attempting to find a date.

“I’ve been in prison for like five years so I think it’s reasonable to try to find a date,” he said.

Yee further expressed critical views about Singapore, describing it as “terrible” with “boring buildings” and “very depressing people”, though he added it was still “best to be here”.

According to CNA, his mother stood nearby during the interaction and declined to comment, directing questions to her son.

Case adjourned to May

According to court records, the case has been adjourned to May for the defence to confirm instructions.

Any representations to the prosecution must be submitted by 14 May.

A second pre-trial conference has been scheduled for 22 May 2026.

 

Amos Yee deported from US, faces Singapore court over national service offences

Yee was deported from the United States on 19 March 2026 and returned to Singapore the following day.

Upon arrival at Changi Airport on 20 March, he was arrested by Central Manpower Base enlistment inspectors.

He was charged in the State Courts on the same day with three offences related to national service obligations.

These include failing to report for pre-enlistment medical screening over a period exceeding nine years, from 26 April 2016 to 19 March 2026.

He also faces allegations of leaving Singapore without valid exit permits during two separate periods between December 2015 and March 2026.

Yee was remanded for one week for preliminary investigations before being released on 26 March on bail of S$10,000.

He left the Changi Prison Complex accompanied by his mother.

The Ministry of Defence (MinDef) has stated that failure to comply with enlistment requirements and prolonged unauthorised absence overseas would result in prosecution under Singapore law.

History in the United States

Yee relocated to the United States in 2016 following multiple legal cases in Singapore.

He entered the country in December that year and applied for asylum, citing political persecution linked to earlier convictions.

A United States immigration judge granted asylum in March 2018 despite opposition from the Department of Homeland Security.

Yee was subsequently released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody later that year.

His time in the United States later became marked by a separate criminal case. In October 2020, he was indicted in Illinois on charges related to solicitation and possession of child pornography.

Court proceedings established that Yee had communicated with a 14-year-old girl from Texas while residing in Chicago.

He was found to have solicited explicit images through WhatsApp and distributed them online.

Yee pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 2 December 2021 to six years’ imprisonment, backdated to his arrest.

Parole and deportation proceedings

Yee was first granted parole on 7 October 2023 but was returned to custody about a month later for violating parole conditions. 

Conditions of his parole included restrictions on internet usage and limitations on proximity to locations where children might be present without prior approval.

He was granted parole a second time on 20 November 2025 following his release from the Danville Correctional Center in Illinois. He was transferred into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody shortly after.

In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security listed Yee in a public database identifying individuals facing deportation for serious criminal convictions. He was the only Singaporean named in the database.

Prior to deportation, blog posts attributed to Yee and circulated by supporters included an open letter opposing his return to Singapore.

The letter argued that he would face imprisonment and suggested potential political disruption if deported.

Singapore authorities confirmed throughout the process that they would accept his return.

Yee first gained public attention in 2015 when he was convicted in Singapore for wounding religious feelings through remarks targeting Christians.

Approximately a year later, he was convicted again on a similar charge involving remarks about Christians and Muslims. He received a further custodial sentence and fine.

These convictions formed part of the basis for his asylum claim in the United States.